Sewing machine



Juhe 24, 11930. E. w. ARMSTRONG v 1,767,955

SEWING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1928 2 Shoots-Sheet l 12F r -lI il] fa l@ 1 gg;

June 24, 1930.

agi@ IE. W. ARMSTRONG SEWING MACHINE Filed May 16. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES EDWARD WEST ARMSTRONG, OF BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND SEWING MACHINE Application filed May 1G, 1928, Serial No. 278,115, and in Great Britain February 6, 1928i.

This invention relates to embroidery sewing-machines, and has particular reference to machines of this type in which a needle bar is Voperatively carried by a head adapted to be swung `to and fro in a iiXed frame by a. pitnian or equivalent.

According to the present invention, I p rovide a multiple needle embroidery sewing machine with means whereby the needles are vibrated so that they move relatively to-each other in opposite directions.y Preferably, the said means comprises an adjustment device whereby the amplitude of the vibrations of one of two needles is variable independently of the amplitude of the vibrations of the other needle. The said means may also comprise supports for the needles wherein the needles are relatively adjustable so as to pass each other during their' vibrations.

One embodiment of the invention, as applied to a two-needle embroidery sewing machine, will now be described, by way of enample, with reference to the annexed-drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a lfront view of the said embodiment, with adjacent parts of the sewing machine;

Fig. 2 is a front View, similar yto that in Fig. '1"but with the operating parts in diii'erent position;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are plan, 'front and s ide .views of the right-hand needle holder (Figs. 1 and 2) Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are plan, front and'side views of the left-hand needle holder (Figs. 1 and 2) Fig. 9 is a View of the two needles face to face, as they appear from the front of the sewing-machine;

Fig. 10 is a view of one needle looking towards the 'face thereof;

Fig. '1'1 is a view of the right-hand needle (Fig. 1) looking from the rear u Figs. A12 and 13 are views showing diagrammatieally two embroidery designs carried out according to the invention;

Fig. 14 is a rear View of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1; n

Fig. 15 yis a side view partly 1n section of the said arrangement (Fig. 1).

Referring to the drawings The needle bar 1 of the sewing machine is carriedby the usual swinging head 2 which is suspended in the fixed frame 3 of the machine and vibrated relatively thereto by the usual vibrating pitman 4. The pitman 4 may be reciprocated by any of the known means for such purpose, one means being indicated diagrammatically at A in Fig. 1.

The bottom of the needle bar l is bifurcated and between the bifurcated ends of the said bar, the tongue 5 of a carrier 6 is engaged, being held rigidly therein by a pin 5a. The top of the tongue 5 is also bifurcated, the bifurcated ends thereof projecting up the side of the needle bar 1 and thereby ensuring firm connection between the bar 1 and the carrier 6. i

As will be seen from Figs. 1 and 2, the carrier 6 is of T shape, the horizontal Vportion of the carrier being formed with a slot 7 Two needle holders 8 and 9 are mounted in the carrier', the right-hand needle holder 9 being fixed in the carrier and the left-hand holder 8 being supported slidably therein, as more fully described hereinafter with reference to Figs. 14 and 15. In'the adjacent side portions ofthe needle holders'8, 9 a vertical groove 8 and 9et respectively (see Figs.

3 to 8)*is formed, and a saw-cut or recess 8b and 9b respectively projects .inwards `from each groove through the bottom portion of vthe respective holder 8 or 9. By this means,

flat face 13 (see Fig. 9) and the needles are l end of the rod 15 fits into a vertical recess in a block 17 of dove-tail section (see Fig. 15) and is secured to the said block by a screw 16. The block 17 is slidable in the slot 18 of a bracket 19, which is formed `with anrupward extension 20 so that it may be secured by a screw pin 21 to a cover plate 22 on the fixed frame 3.V The slidable block 17 is also provided with a forwardly projecting stud 23, to which is connected a two-part adjustable pitman 24, the said pitman being retained on the stud 23 by a washer and wing nut 25. The

' outer end of the pitman 24 is pivotally connected to a lever Y26 adapted to be rocked about a fulcrum pin 27 by a bracket 28 secured to the swinging head 2. VThe fulcrum pin 27 is supported by a slotted bracket 29 attached to the cover plate 22 of the fixed frame 3, and is adjustable upwards or vdownwards in the slots of the bracket 29 and rocking lever 26 on loosening a nut 30 (see Fig. 15). It will be apparent from the drawing that the adjustment of the fulcrum pin 27 effects a variation in the throw of the pitman 24 and consequently of the rod 15 and needle holder 8.

As will be seen from Figs. 14 and 15, the needle holder 8 is connected to a block comprising a rectangular boss 31 and back-plate 32. The construction of the said block is such that, when connected to the holder 8 about the carrier 6, the boss 31 enters the slot 7 of the carrier, whilst loose movement of the block and needle holder 8 as a whole in a direction at right angles to their direction of sliding is prevented by the back plate 32 and inner surface of the said needle holder 8 gripping slidably the side surfaces of the parts of the carrier 6 above and below the slot 7.

. In contrast to the slidable attachment of the needle holder 8, the needle holder 9 is adapted to be fixed in the carrier 6, so that the needle 11 clamped in the said holder 9 is vie brated directly in accordance with the vibrations of the needle bar 1. As shown in Fig. 5, the holder 9' is connected by a bolt 35 to a flanged collar 34, the construction of the said collar being such that, when connected to the holder 9 about the carrier 6, the reduced portion of the collar enters the slot 7 of the carrier, whilst the collar 34 and holder 9 as a.

whole are drawn together so as to grip the parts of the carrier above and below the slot 7 by means of the bolt 35. As will be understood, adjustment of the needle holder 9 in carrier 6 can be effected on loosening the tightening bolt'35.

YVhen the sewing machine is put into action, the needle 11 operates in known manner, being carried by the holder 9 and carrier 6 fixed to the ordinary needle bar 1. The needle 10, on the other hand, is raised and lowered in conjunction with the needle 11, but, by reason of the above described mechanism,

is caused to vibrate so that the two needles 10, 11 move relatively to each other in opposite directions. The4 amplitude of the vibrations transmitted to the needle 11 by the ordinary pitman 4 is varied by use of any of the adjustable mechanisms heretofore known in the art for controlling the throw of the said pitman, which means is hereinbelow described. As will be understood, variations so effected in the vibration of the needle 11 are also produced in the same degree in the vibrations of the needle 10. By adjustment/of the fulcrum pin 27, however, variations are effected in the amplitude of the vibrations of needle 10, which are independent of the aforesaid variations resulting from adjustment of the control means of the usual pitman 4. For example, by raising the fulcrum pin 27 above the middle position between the bracket 28 and auxiliary pitman 24, the throw of the said auxiliary pitman is made smaller, whereas, by lowering the said pin 27 below the said middle position the throw of the said auxili ary pitman is increased with corresponding variations in the throw of the needle 10 independent of the throw of needle 11.

Furthermore, the needle lland the operat- Y ing mechanism hereinbefore described may be so Aadjusted that the two needle 10, 11 instead of merely approaching close to one another, actually pass each other during their relative movements. This result is obtained in the manner indicated in Fig. 2, where the needle holder 9 is shown in dotted line tilted about its supporting bolt 35, so that the needles 10, 11, at the inner part of their throws, cross one another. To permit the crossing movement, the grooves 8a, 8b, of the needle holders 8 and 9 are made so that when the said holders are arranged on the bracket 19, the needles 10 and 11 are out of alignment,

that is, they vibrate not in the same'plane butV in parallel planes sufficiently spaced apart to prevent interference of the needles 10, 11 with each other. As will be understood, when the needle holder 9 has been turned to the desired angle, the bolt 35 is tightened up so that the said needle holder does not shift when in operation.

By providing an embroidery machine with the needles adapted to be vibrated relatively to each other and with the vibrations under control as aforesaid, it is possible to obtain effects in machine embroidery sewing which greatly enhance the appearance and value of the embroidery, whilst effecting a great saving in time and cost. Two color work can be done on the two-needle machine operated as described so as to produce very attractive designs and combinations of colors. For example, the operating mechanism may be adj usted so as to produce the designs shown in Fig. 12, in which the thread 36 embroidered on the fabric by the one needle may be of different color from the thread 37 embroidered by the other needle, and the saine applies to the threads 38, 89. Moreover, by means of the invention, two halves of a leaf or like design can be done in different colors at one operation, or a split leaf can be done in a single color by the two needles at one operation. Gne example of work of this kind is shown in Fig. 13, where the threads 40, 4l are sewn simultaneously by the two different needles in respect of each leaf of the design.

lt will be apparent that whilst the invention has been described with reference to a two-needle machine, it may be applied to multiple needle machines with three, four or more needles. For example, where four needles are provided, they may be arranged in pairs, and by providing two hooks instead of one for the under thread, each pair of the said needles can be operated in substantially the same manner as described above with respect to the two single needles.

l. ln an embroidery sewing machine, the combination of a fixed frame, a swinging head, a needle bar operatively carried by the said head, and means whereby said head is vibrated laterally with a pair of needles, supports therefor, means for securing one of said needle supports in fixed position relatively to said needle bar, means whereby the other of said supports is carried slidably relatively to said bar, a rocking member, a fulcrum for said member on said frame, means connecting one end of said member to said swinging head, and means connecting the other end of said member to said slidable needle support so as to cause said support to vibrate laterally.

2. In an embroidery sewing machine, the combination of a fixed frame, a swinging head. a needle bar operatively carried by the said head, and means whereby said head is vibrated laterally, with a pair of needles, supports therefor, means for securing one of said needle supports in fixed position relatively to said needle bar, means whereby the other of said supports is carried so as to be slidable laterally of said bar, a rocking member, a fulcium for said member on said frame, means connecting one end of said member to said swinging head, a vertical guide member for said slidable support, means for supporting said guide member so as to permit lateral movement thereof, means retaining said guide member and slidable needle support in vertically slidable connection, and means connecting said guide member to the end of said rocking lever remote from its connection to said swinging head.

3. In an embroidery sewing machine, the combination of a fixed frame, a swinging head, a needle bar operatively carried by the said head, and means whereby said head is vibrated laterally, with a pair of needles, supports therefor, means for securing one of said needle supports in fixed position 'relatively to said needle bar, means whereby the other of said supports is carried `soas to be vslidable laterally of said bar, 'a rocking member, a fulerum for said member on said frame, means connecting one end y of said rocking member to said swingingl head, a laterally-slotted bracket on said fixed frame, a block slidably mounted in said bracket, a vertical guide rod, means whereby said rod is fixed to said slidable block, means on said slidable needle support for einbracing said guide rod, and a pitinan connecting said slidable block to the end of said rocking lever vremote from its connection to said swinging head.

4. In an embroidery sewing machine, the combination of a fixed frame, a swinging head, `a needle bar operatively carried by the said head, and means Vwhereby said head is vibiated laterally, with a pair of needles, supports therefor, means for securing one of said needle supports in fixed position relatively to said needle bar, means whereby the other of said supports is carried so as to be slidable laterally of said bar, a rocking member, a fulcrum for said l member on said frame, means connecting one end of said member to said swinging head, a vertical guide member for said slidable needle support, means for supporting said guide 'member so as to permit lateral movement thereof, means retainying said guide member and slidable needle support in vertically slidable connection,

means connecting said guide member to the end of said rocking lever remote from-its connection to said swinging head, means for simultaneously effecting similar ,adj ustments -in the amplitudes of the vibrations ofthe two needles, and means for varying thelamplitude ofthe vibrations of one needle independently of the amplitude of the vibrations of the other needle.

5. In an embroidery sewing machine, the combination of a fixedvframe, a swinging head, a needle bar operatively carried by the said head, and means whereby said head is vibrated laterally, with a pair of needles, clamp supports therefor, means for Securing one of said supports in fixed position relatively to said needle bar, means whereby the other of said supports is carried so as to be slidable laterally of said bar, a slotted'rocking lever, a vertically-slotted bracket on said fixed frame, a fulcruin pin carrying said rocking lever, means for adj ustably securing said pin in said slotted bracket, means connecting the upper end of said lever to said swinging head, a vertical guide member for said slidable needle support, means for supporting said guide member so as to permit lateral movement thereof, means retaining said guide member and slidable needle support in vertically slidable connection, and means connecting said guide member to the lower end of said rocking lever.

6. In an embroidery sewing machine, the combination of a fixed frame, a swinging head, a needle bar operatively carried by the said head, and means whereby said head is vibrated laterally, with a pair of needles, clamp supports therefor, means for securing one of' said supports in xed position relatively to said needle bar, means whereby the other of said supports is carried so as to be slidable laterally of said bar, a slotted rocking lever, a vertically-slotted bracket on said fixed frame, a fulcrum pin carrying said rocking lever, means for adjustably securing said pin in said slotted bracket, means connecting the upper end of said lever to said swinging head, a laterally-slotted bracket on said fixed frame, a. block slidably mounted in said last mentioned bracket, a vertical guide rod, means whereby said rod is fixed to said slidable block, means on said slidable needle support for embracing said guide rod, and a pitmanconnecting said slidable block to the lower end of said rocking lever.

7. In an embroidery sewing` machine, the combination of a fixed frame, a swinging head, a needle bar operatively carried by the said head, and means whereby said head is vib'rated laterally, with a pair of needles, supports therefor, a carrier slotted laterally of said bar, means for securing said carrier to said bar, means for securing one of said needle supports in angularly adjustable position relativelyto said needle bar, means whereby the other of said supports is carried slidably relatively to said bar, and means whereby said last mentioned support is vibrated laterally so that said needles move relatively to each other in opposite directions.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

EDWARD WEST ARMSTRONG. 

